Fence system for containing pets

ABSTRACT

A lightweight fence and gate for containing pets including a plurality of poles and a mesh fabric tensioned between the plurality of poles. The mesh fabric is attached to each pole by screws, and a flexible fabric border may cover and be attached to edges of the mesh fabric The mesh fabric is made from metal and the fabric border may be made from vinyl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, a need has been recognized for a type of temporaryfence that is able to contain pets. More specifically, there is a needfor a fence that is difficult for a pet to penetrate, is weatherresistant, and is removable. Traditional removable fences are typicallymade from a plastic mesh material that is susceptible to be chewed,scratched, clawed or otherwise compromised by an animal. Such activityby animals may cause the plastic mesh material to tear, allowing anopening in the fence through which an animal may escape or enter thefenced area. On the other hand, fences that are made from more durablematerials, such as metal, are not easily removable and storable, thusmaking them difficult to erect and dismantle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fence system that is difficult for apet to penetrate, is weather resistant, and is easily removable andinstallable into, for example, a deck.

In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides for a lightweightfence and gate for containing pets including a mesh fabric tensionedbetween a plurality of poles, the mesh fabric being attached to eachpole by screws. A flexible fabric border covers and is attached to edgesof the mesh fabric. The mesh fabric is made from metal, for example,aluminum. The fabric border may made from vinyl and may attached to themesh fabric by a double needle walking foot machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a fence system of one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detail of a pole engaged with a metal mesh fabric of thefence system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating how a fence may be inserted intoa deck according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detail of a plastic insert and a plastic insert cap of oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a connector in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 5 in an open position.

FIG. 7 is a side view of two connected fence portions.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a pole containing an insert and apin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary portion of a fence system 10 of oneembodiment of the present invention includes hollow cylindrical poles 12and a metal mesh fabric 16 tensioned between adjacent poles. The poles12 may be made from a lightweight, rigid material which can support thefence system 10, and in one exemplary embodiment, the poles are madefrom aluminum. Referring also to FIG. 8, each pole 12 may include aninsert 13 and a pin 14 coupled to the insert, the pin protruding from afirst end of the pole. In one exemplary embodiment, the insert 13 ismade from plastic and the pin 14 is made from aluminum. The pin 14 isadapted to fit into a hole in the ground to keep the pole 12 upright, asdescribed in more detail below. Referring again to FIG. 1, coupled to asecond end of each pole 12 may be a cap 24. The cap 24 serves to coverany sharp edges created by a top end of the pole 12 and to seal theopening of the hollow pole to prevent foreign substances such as debrisor water from entering the pole. The caps 24 may be made from, forexample, plastic, and the caps may be maintained in the pole by aninterference fit.

The mesh fabric 16 is located between adjacent poles 12 of the fencesystem 10 and is made from a lightweight, rust-resistant metal. In oneexemplary embodiment, the mesh fabric 16 has a square pattern measuring⅛ inch by ⅛ inch. Having such a pattern ensures that the fence does notprovide footholds which a pet could use to scale the fence.Additionally, the small square pattern reduces the likelihood that a petwill be able to chew through the mesh fabric 16. The metal used for themesh fabric may be, for example, aluminum, but any other lightweight,rust-resistant metal may also be used. The pattern of the fence need notbe ⅛ inch squares, but rather any pattern that does not providefootholds or jaw access which could be used by an animal to penetratethe fence. Moreover, the material tensioned between the poles 12 of thefence and the pattern of such material should allow the fence portionsto be rolled up for easy storage and unrolled without any obviouslasting deformities.

The mesh fabric 16 may have a vinyl border 20 running along each edge ofthe fabric. The border 20 serves to cover the sharp edges of the meshfabric 16 to prevent the edges from causing injury to a person or ananimal and also to prevent the edges of the fabric from fraying orotherwise becoming compromised. The border 20 may be created by foldinga piece of vinyl over a length of the edge of the mesh fabric 16 andthen flat stitching the vinyl using, for example, a double needlewalking foot machine. The double needle walking foot machine providestwo rows of stitching 22 to secure the vinyl border 20 around the meshfabric 16. The border 20 may also be made from any other flexiblematerial which prevents the edges of the mesh fabric from piercing theborder and may be coupled to the mesh fabric by any means sufficient tokeep the border attached to the fabric. In an alternate embodiment, theedges of the mesh fabric 16 may be fused, such as by welding, to form anedge without sharp points. Additionally, any other methods that preventedges of the mesh fabric from having sharp points that may cause injuryare contemplated, such as, for example, fusing the edges of the meshfabric by melting the sharp points together.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mesh fabric 16 is attached to the poles12 using screws 26. Before the screws 26 are inserted, a molding 18 maybe inserted along a length of the pole 12 and over the mesh fabric 16.The molding 18 provides extra support for the attachment of the meshfabric and prevents the mesh fabric from separating from the pole evenwhen the mesh fabric is subjected to high stress. The molding 18 may beconcave to match the curvature of the pole 16 and may have rounded edgesto reduce the likelihood of injuries resulting from the molding. Themolding may be made from, for example, aluminum, but may also be madefrom any other lightweight, rust-resistant metal or plastic.

In one exemplary embodiment, fourteen screws are used to attach the meshfabric 16 to a pole 12. As shown in FIG. 1 and in more detail in FIG. 2,three screws are inserted near either end of the aluminum molding 18:one approximately in the center of the vinyl border 20, and one equallyspaced from the center screw on either side of the vinyl border. Eightscrews 26 are evenly spaced between each edge of the mesh fabric alongthe length of the aluminum molding 18. Clearly, any number orarrangement of screws 26 may be used to sufficiently attached the meshfabric 16 to the poles 12 and the number or arrangement of screws is notlimited to the example described above. In addition, other attachmentmeans such as, for example, rivets or nuts and bolts, may also be usedto attach the mesh fabric 16 to a pole 12.

As noted above, the fence system 10 of the present invention is adaptedto fit into holes 34 drilled into the ground 36 or a deck as shown inFIG. 3. More specifically, a socket 28 adapted to receive the pin 14 orlower pole end may be inserted into the hole 34 in the deck 36. Thesocket 28 includes a generally hollow cylindrical body 30 and a flange32 at one end of the body. The flange 32 serves to limit the extent towhich the socket 28 may be inserted into the hole 34 and also to alloweasy removal of the socket from the hole. The socket 28 has a channel 40into which the pin 14 or lower pole end is inserted and a base 33 onwhich the pin rests. The socket base 33 has a drainage hole 38 whichallows water and debris to drain from the socket 28 to prevent thesocket from becoming clogged. In one exemplary embodiment, the socket 28is made from a rigid plastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE).

As shown in FIG. 3, the fence system may be installed as follows. First,holes 34 are drilled into the desired location of the fence system, forexample, a deck. A socket 28 is then placed into the holes 34 drilledinto the deck. Once the sockets 28 have been installed, the pins 14 orthe lower end of the fence poles 12 are sequentially inserted into thesockets, unwinding the tensioned mesh fabric 16 as the poles areinserted. Inserting the poles 12 into the sockets 28 allows the poles tostand erect and establish a fence system 10 around a desired area.

When the fence 10 is temporarily not being used, but the sockets 28 areleft in the pool deck holes 34, a cap 42 (FIG. 4) adapted to fit intoand cover the channel 40 of the socket 28 may be placed on the socket.The cap 42 prevents debris from accumulating in the socket 28 when thefence system 10 is not installed. The cap 42 may be made from, forexample, plastic or rubber, and the cap may be secured to the socket 28by an interference fit.

Sections of the fence, including a gate section, may be attachedtogether by a connector 44 to form a fence system 10. As shown in FIGS.5 and 6, the connector 44 includes a body 46 coupled to a sleeve 48. Thebody 46 includes a loop 58 to which a first screw 54 is attached and aclosing section 52 which is substantially V-shaped. The sleeve 48 isgenerally cylindrical having a pair of eyelets 60 located at one end.The eyelets 60 are adapted to receive a locking device 62 (FIG. 7) whichcan be inserted into the eyelets to prevent the connector from beingmoved to an open position, as is described in more detail below. Thecylindrical portion of the sleeve 48 has a “cut away” portion, allowingthe closing section 52 of the body 46 to protrude from the sleevecreating a locking region when the body is coupled to the sleeve. Asecond screw 56 may be coupled to the body 46 and maintained in thelocking region. The protrusion of the closing section 52 from the sleeve48 also prevents the body 46 and the sleeve from separating. A spring 50inserted over the body 46 biases the sleeve 48 against the closingsection 52.

The connector 44 has a closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, and an openposition, as shown in FIG. 6. In the closed position, a screw, forexample, may be housed in the closing region 5 created by the closingsection 52 and the sleeve 48, the closing region being maintained by thespring 50 biasing the sleeve against the body 46. In the open position,the spring 50 is compressed by moving the sleeve 48 towards the loop 58such that the sleeve no longer prevents an object from sliding freelyalong the body 46. In the open position, the second screw 56 can bedisengaged from the connector 44.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first and second screws 54, 56 of the connector44 may be coupled to poles 12 of adjacent fence portions to form acontinuous fence system. The connector 44 may also be used incombination with a lock 62 to form a gate in the fence which may beopened to gain access to the fenced area and locked to prevent entryinto the fence area. Alternatively, the first screw 54 may be connectedto a pole 12 and the second screw 56 may be connected to an adjacentstructure, such as a building. Attaching the connector 44 to a structureallows a fence system to be a complete circuit, and thereby tension ismaintained in the fence. To disassemble the fence system, the connector44 is transferred from the closed position to the open position,allowing the second screw 56 to be disengaged from the connector.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications may be made to these embodiments without departingfrom the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which isdefined in the claims and their equivalents.

1. A lightweight fence and gate for containing pets comprising: aflexible mesh fabric tensioned between a plurality of poles of thelightweight fence and gate for containing pets, the flexible mesh fabricbeing attached to each pole by screws such that an edge of the flexiblemesh fabric is substantially parallel to the pole; and a flexible fabricborder covering and attached to edges of the mesh fabric; wherein theflexible mesh fabric is made from metal; and wherein the flexible meshfabric is patterned to prevent footholds and jaw access which could beused by an animal to penetrate the fence.
 2. The lightweight fence andgate of claim 1, wherein the flexible fabric border is made from vinyl.3. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein the flexiblefabric border is stitched to the flexible mesh fabric.
 4. Thelightweight fence and gate of claim 3, wherein the flexible fabricborder is stitched to the flexible mesh fabric using a double needlewalking foot machine.
 5. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1,wherein the flexible mesh fabric is made from aluminum.
 6. Thelightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein each pole is insertableinto a socket, the socket being inserted into a hole.
 7. The lightweightfence and gate of claim 1, wherein the flexible mesh fabric is attachedto the poles by a plurality of screws.
 8. The lightweight fence and gateof claim 1, wherein a molding is located along a length of each pole;wherein the flexible mesh fabric is located between the aluminum moldingand the pole; and wherein the molding and flexible mesh fabric areattached to the poles by a plurality of screws.
 9. The lightweight fenceand gate of claim 8, wherein the molding is made from aluminum.
 10. Amethod for installing a lightweight fence and gate for containing pets,the lightweight fence and gate including a plurality of poles, a metalmesh fabric tensioned between the plurality of poles, the mesh fabricbeing attached to each pole by screws, and a flexible fabric bordercovering and attached to edges of the mesh fabric, the methodcomprising: locating a plurality of predrilled holes on a surface;inserting a socket into each predrilled hole; sequentially inserting apole into each socket.
 11. A lightweight fence and gate for containingpets comprising: a flexible mesh fabric tensioned between a plurality ofpoles of the lightweight fence and gate for containing pets; wherein theflexible mesh fabric is attached to each pole along a length of the polesuch that an edge of the flexible mesh fabric is substantially parallelto the pole; wherein the flexible mesh fabric is made from metal; andwherein the flexible mesh fabric may be rolled and unrolled repeatedlywithout substantial lasting deformities.
 12. The lightweight fence andgate of claim 11, further comprising a flexible fabric border coveringand attached to edges of the flexible mesh fabric.
 13. The lightweightfence and gate of claim 11, wherein the flexible mesh fabric has fusededges absent sharp points.
 14. The lightweight fence and gate of claim11, further comprising a molding attached to each pole, the moldingextending along a length of each pole and covering the flexible meshfabric.
 15. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 11, each polefurther comprising an insert and a pin attached to the insert such thatthe pin protrudes from the pole.
 16. A lightweight fence and gate forcontaining pets comprising: a flexible mesh fabric tensioned between aplurality of poles of the lightweight fence and gate for containingpets; and a molding attached to each pole, the molding extending along alength of each pole and covering the flexible mesh fabric; wherein theflexible mesh fabric is made from metal; wherein the flexible meshfabric has fused edges absent sharp points; and wherein the flexiblemesh fabric is patterned to prevent footholds and jaw access which couldbe used by an animal to penetrate the fence.
 17. The lightweight fenceof claim 16, wherein the flexible mesh fabric and the molding areattached to the plurality of poles by at least one attachment member.18. The lightweight fence of claim 17, wherein the at least oneattachment member is selected from the group consisting of a screw, arivet, and a nut and bolt.